Dental Asia March/April 2022

DENTAL UPDATES
W&H provides inspiration for sustainability in dental practices
Medical technology company W&H is calling
on dental practices to get involved as part of
its international campaign, #dentalsunited.
The campaign, “#dentalsunited – UNITED
we go green”, has the objective of setting
out common steps toward environmental
protection. The campaign provides a wealth
of practical tips encouraging dental practices
to think and act green.
As Peter Malata, managing director of W&H,
said: “Sustainability is not a vision for the
future, but rather a necessity for the present.”
When it comes to the environment, there
are various opportunities for improvement
in the medical and dental industry. Singleuse
and plastics are often still commonly
used in order to comply with the necessary
hygiene standards. In addition to this, a lot
of material is used for equipment as well as
energy.
This is where W&H comes in. What specific
steps can dentists take in their practice
to be a part of the solution? From energy
consumption to conserving resources to
consistent recycling, firms will find out what
industry-specific action is required.
FROM RAISING AWARENESS TO
GREEN DENTAL PRACTICES
Since October, the medical technology
company has been providing its online
audience with green suggestions and the
opportunity to share their ideas once a week.
Social media posts and further blog
contributions are creating more awareness
around the important topic of environmental
protection. Sources of problems are identified
and solutions provided for more sustainability.
W&H also supports the quality seal ‘Die Grüne
Praxis’, develops and creates sustainable
products, and takes responsibility for the
environment at its head office in Bürmoos,
Salzburg, Austria, and in the W&H Group with a
range of activities.
Malata concluded: “As a manufacturer of
medical devices, we have always been focused
on innovation and advancement. Progress
always requires change. With this in mind, we
are committed to starting a movement in the
medical and dental industry, in which we raise
awareness, inspire and support each other
along the path to more sustainability.” ■
Grin to expand teledentistry platform with Oral-B
Grin, a digital platform that provides oral
health solutions with local dentists and
orthodontists, has announced a partnership
with Oral-B. At CES 2022, the companies
unveiled the latest dental technology which
creates new industry standards in assisting
patients in understanding their oral health.
Grin’s remote monitoring and consultation
capabilities, combined with Oral-B’s
products, will ensure that their customers
have access to the latest personalised oral
health insights and at-home professional
consultations.
This means consumers can understand their
brushing and flossing habits, select the right
Oral-B products, improve behaviours for
better smile results, and have more frequent,
informed conversations with their local
doctor, all in an easy-to-use application.
Image: Daniel Frank/Unsplash
According to Grin, the Grin experience
consists of the Grin App, the Grin Scope, and
Grin Scope mini — the US Food and Drug
Adminstration (FDA)-listed medical devices
which attach to any smartphone camera and
take scans to measure changes to patients’
teeth. Under the supervision of partner
doctors, these technologies allow providers to
transition patient check-ins from in-office to
virtual by remotely monitoring teeth movement,
gum health, and oral hygiene.
With the burden of office visits reduced, oral
health and teeth straightening under the care of
a local doctor is more accessible.
“I created Grin to transform the entire dental
health industry by using technology that
connects professionals and patients to
bring better oral care directly to everyone,”
commented Adam Schulhof, DMD, CEO and
co-founder of Grin. “Partnering with one of the
most trusted consumer product brands like
Oral-B clearly attests to our commitment.
“Grin will continue its pledge to drive innovation,
and by joining ranks with Oral-B, we will ensure
more people can have better oral health.” ■
18 DENTAL ASIA MARCH / APRIL 2022